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Child Care Eligibility Changes <br />October 2014 <br />Change <br />Anticipated Impact <br />Current Practice <br />Staff Recommendations <br />Income Eligibility Changes <br />Although there is minimal <br />Although the state policy <br />Continue paying for three months of care to allow longer <br />For any annual reviews after <br />impact on children under 6, <br />requires only a ten -day notice, <br />notices to families. <br />October 1, 2014, income <br />many families with part-time <br />DSS is giving families three <br />eligibility changes from 75% <br />care now have a fee higher <br />month notices of this change <br />Total for 8 months of $60,000 <br />median income to 200% <br />than the cost of the care. <br />and utilizing county funds to <br />Federal Poverty Level for <br />pay for that care. This was <br />children 0 -5 and to 133% for <br />85 families total thru May <br />based on the discussion with <br />children 6 -12. This will cause <br />2015 <br />the BOCC during the budget <br />many working parents to lose <br />negotiations. <br />child care. <br />Cost of $7,500 per month <br />Fee Increases and Change in <br />This mostly impacted large <br />This change has been <br />Implement state policy but note potential impact on <br />Part -time Care <br />families (whose fees were <br />implemented for all cases and <br />summer costs. Families who meet eligibility criteria but <br />Effective October 1, 2014, <br />previously a smaller <br />was not phased in during <br />would be assessed a fee higher than the cost of the part- <br />regardless of cost of care <br />percentage of income) and <br />reviews. <br />time plan are being placed in "eligible but suspended <br />(including part time and <br />families with part-time care <br />status." These families will be automatically eligible for <br />afterschool), parents now pay <br />(fee is no longer prorated for <br />full-time care in the summer and should not be placed on <br />10% of monthly gross income <br />part-time care) who must all <br />the bottom of the wait list. There is a possibility that DSS <br />as their fee. This will represent <br />now pay higher fees. In <br />will not have enough state subsidy funds to cover those <br />a significant increase for some <br />some cases these two <br />costs neat summer. Not assisting these families will <br />families, particularly those with <br />changes will cause families <br />create significant hardship for these working families and <br />large families and part-time <br />to have a higher fee than the <br />DSS would recommend using county funds for this if <br />care. <br />actual cost of care. <br />state subsidy is not available. <br />Inclusion of Relatives' Income <br />25 families total through May <br />Will affect families as reviews <br />Provide county funds to support any relative cases with <br />Effective January 2015, income <br />2015. <br />are completed starting January <br />needs related to child welfare when family is working <br />from relatives not currently <br />2015 <br />with assigned prevention worker. Utilize one of the <br />counted for eligibility and fees <br />Cost of $11,000 per month <br />positions available after the termination of the school <br />will have to be included. This <br />social work contract, funded partially through Medicaid <br />will have a significant impact <br />Administrative Claiming, to provide comprehensive <br />on grandparents, aunts and <br />services to these families. <br />uncles who are providing <br />homes for children and may <br />also cause an increase in foster <br />care <br />